The Arniko Highway or Arniko Rajmarg leads from Kathmandu above Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel after Kodari on the border to China.
background
Arniko or Araniko was a Nepalese architect, born in Kathmandu in the 13th century. Under Kublai Khan he went to Beijing, achieved great fame and significantly influenced the Asian architecture of his time. This highway, which is largely financed by China, was named in his honor.
The highway simulates an approx. 110 km long connection from Kathmandu to the border Tibet, from there the Friendship Highway to the city about 800 km away Lhasa.
The stretch between Kathmandu and Bhaktapur was renewed at great expense and with Japanese development aid; it has now been completed and paved with four lanes. Super drivable - when there is not the everyday afternoon traffic jam. (As of June 2012). In the further course to the border, the path is mostly only paved, but can be used without any problems in good weather. After several days of rain, however, landslides regularly occur, then the road is in a desolate condition for a few days.
preparation
getting there
Driving / hiking / let's go / ...
From Kathmandu to Dhulikhel (approx. 30 km)
The route begins south of Kathmandu Airport Koteshwor and leads through the Kathmandu valley past the town Thimi to Bhaktapur. The route is being expanded generously, but it already seems to be congested.
Behind Bhaktapur, the area looks less densely populated. Grain and vegetables are grown in the fertile area, and you can see numerous smaller brickworks. Between Naln Chowk and Banepa stands by on a hill 27 ° 38 '46 "N.85 ° 28 ′ 25 ″ E a big Shiva statue or Mahadev statue, which means expression Great god. The next city Dhulikhel lies on the edge of the Kathmandu valley at 1585 m.
From Dhulikhel to Dolalghat (approx. 30 km)
On a serpentine route it goes down into Panchkhal valley, below an altitude of 1000 m, besides barley and maize, sugar cane and rice grow on the fertile soil, and finally you get to Dolalghat. Here the flows Indrawati in the bigger and wilder ones Sun Koshi , which is a popular starting point for rafting tours.
From Dolalghat to Barhabise (approx. 25 km)
Now it goes upstream again from 634 m above sea level. The valley becomes narrower and the fields stretch in numerous terraces along the slopes. In between the Sun Koshi dammed up, and there are modest approaches to industrialization in the vicinity of the hydropower plant, but it doesn't seem really serious.
From Barhabise to Kodari (approx. 25 km)
At Barhabise the Arniko Highway leaves the valley of the Sun Koshi and follows its tributary Bhote-Koshi or simply Tibet River called. Smaller barrages are used to generate electricity, otherwise the river is often used for rafting tours, and at one point in the narrow gorge there is even a suspension bridge with bungy jumping. Wild beehives hang on the rock face only a few 100 m away. Then you reach the village of Tatopani at an altitude of 1530 m. The name means warm water and indicates the occurrence and use of hot springs. A little further upriver you will reach a row of houses on the right side of the street, isolated buildings on the opposite side seem out of place. Now you are in Kodari arrived to the legendary and desolate village on the border Tibet. Behind his houses the road turns right onto a bridge. Friendship Bridge is her name. Behind it are large halls and an almost endless line of parked trucks. And further up, halfway up the mountain, lies the first Tibetan village, once known by the name Khasa, today this city is called Zhangmu.
